As India celebrates its 77th Republic Day on January 26, 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes, заряжая the nation with new energy and enthusiasm. The day commemorates the adoption of the Indian Constitution on January 26, 1950, marking India's transition to a sovereign, socialist, secular, and democratic republic.
The centerpiece of the Republic Day celebrations is the grand parade held at Kartavya Path in New Delhi. The parade showcases India's military prowess and cultural diversity, honoring the nation's sovereignty, democratic values, and progress. Millions of people witness the parade via live broadcasts.
This year's Republic Day celebrations are centered around the theme "150 Years of Vande Mataram," paying tribute to the iconic song by freedom fighter Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The theme evokes the nation's spirit of unity in diversity amidst internal and global challenges. In addition to "Vande Mataram," the celebrations also highlight the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" initiative, emphasizing self-reliance.
The Republic Day ceremony commenced with PM Modi paying tribute to fallen heroes at the National War Memorial at 9:30 AM. This was followed by a formal salute by an Inter-Services Guard and a two-minute silence in remembrance of the martyrs.
The Republic Day Parade at Kartavya Path began at 10:30 AM and lasted for approximately 90 minutes. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, unfurled the tricolor at Kartavya Path, followed by the parade. The parade, which started from Rashtrapati Bhavan and marched 5 km to India Gate, featured contingents from the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
Several firsts marked the 2026 Republic Day parade. The parade highlighted "Operation Sindoor," with a specialized "Sindoor" fly-past featuring Rafale and MiG aircraft. The DRDO showcased a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile capable of Mach 10 speed, and the Army debuted a new "Battle Array" combat format. Trained surveillance robots were part of a contingent for the first time, and there was a display of indigenous "swarm drone" technology.
Approximately 2,500 cultural artists performed folk dances and music on themes like "Vande Mataram" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat". A total of 30 tableaux, including 17 from States/UTs and 13 from Ministries/Departments/Services, were displayed in the parade. Assam's tableau showcased its traditional terracotta craft, while Himachal Pradesh's tableau highlighted its identity as "Dev Bhoomi". A series of paintings created by Shri Tejendra Kumar Mitra in 1923, illustrating the verses of 'Vande Mataram', were displayed as view-cutters along Kartavya Path.
The Chief Guests for the 77th Republic Day Parade were Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the European Council. Their presence marked a significant move as India and the European Union move towards a landmark trade agreement. The leaders were on a state visit to India from January 25-27 and co-chaired the 16th India-EU Summit on January 27.
The Republic Day celebrations are a four-day affair, concluding with the Beating Retreat ceremony at Vijay Chowk on January 29. The Beating Retreat ceremony marks the official end of the Republic Day festivities.
The Ministry of Defence, in partnership with MyGov, organized a series of national online contests and activities to commemorate Republic Day 2026. These initiatives were designed to ignite curiosity, inspire creativity, and deepen appreciation for India's heritage. An online poll was organized on the MyGov platform where people could watch the parade and vote for their best tableaux and marching contingent. Trophies were awarded for the best marching contingent and tableaux.
